Pinnacle Of Power

Chapter 7: Special confinement

Bradley's POV

"Come with me", one of the wardens said.

I wondered what was going on as I was led to the call booth.

"A call came in for you. You've got 5 minutes".

"A call from who?" I asked.

"And how am I supposed to know?" He asked, obviously irritated by my question.

I just ignored him and grabbed the phone.

"Hello", I said. The voice from the other end of the phone tore my heart apart.

My mother.

"Bradley...baby...I'm so sorry I haven't been able to call as frequently as I ought to," she said, sobbing. How are things there?"

Tears formed a heavy lump in my throat but I swallowed it back. I had to be strong for her and Father.

"I'm fine, Mother. How are you and Father? And his health?"

She broke down again, "We're coping just fine. I miss you so much son...every minute of each day. Please forgive us...we couldn't do much to protect you".

In the background, I could hear my Father's strained voice saying he wanted to speak to me.

"Son", his voice sounded weak, with concern, "how are you holding up?"

"Don't worry about me Father, I'm doing alright. Just focus on getting better okay? I'll be out before you know it."

"My son...you sound so strong. I know things aren't easy but please, forgive me and hold on. Please be strong. You are all we have now".

"Don't worry, I can handle myself. Please, take good care of your health".

"I will son".

"And one more thing".

"What is it son?", he asked.

"I don't quite understand what's going on Father. Something strange happened the night I came here", I said in a whisper so the warden standing by wouldn't catch up on what I was discussing.

"What's wrong?" I could feel the tension in his voice and I feared saying more could trouble his heart.

"Is mom there?" I asked

"Yes".

"Ok, please pass the phone to her".

"Bradley, what's the matter?"

I narrated the ordeal of that night I came in here, and how I woke up in a cell different from the one I was placed in before.

I wasn't expecting her to really solve this puzzle but I just wanted to talk to her about it. Especially when the brunette I had spoken to earlier talked about this 'special confinement'. Most importantly, who had placed me there?

My mother didn't sound surprised at all, very much to my dismay.

"Bradley...don't-" my mom was saying when the warden snatched the phone from me.

"Time's up boy".

I was boiling inside but I kept my cool-they had the upper hand here anyway.

Almost immediately, another officer came and knocked him on the head.

"Are you blind? Don't you know he is one of the men placed in special confinement?" He asked seething with anger. "Apologize to him now!"

Okay. What's up with this whole 'special confinement' of a thing? I asked myself.

The officer who had brought me in was shocked.

"I'm sorry...I didn't realize, please... overlook my mistake, it won't happen again...I-I promise", he said sounding really remorseful.

I was beside myself in shock but I didn't let it show. Now I have more questions than before.

"I'm Officer Peterson, please overlook my colleague's oversight, he didn't know any better".

"It's fine", I said, keeping my tone tight and neutral. "I just need to finish making my call".

He turned and glared at the junior officer. As if he understood what it meant, he quickly made way for me to go to the call booth to finish my call.

I dialed the line again and my Mother picked it up.

"Mom".

"Bradley...what happened? Why was the line suddenly disconnected?"

"It's nothing serious, Mom, don't worry about it".

"Are you sure?...you know you don't have to hide anything from me right?"

"I know that Mom, and I promise you, it wasn't anything serious".

"Ok son, that's good to hear", she said, sounding relieved.

"So, Mom as I was saying, I..." I was about to continue from where we left off, but I raised my head and saw the two officers staring at me. I made a head movement signaling them to leave.

"Oh yes, we'll be waiting just outside...let us know when you're done". Officer Preston said.

I kept my eyes on them until they were outside.

"Mom...did you and Dad pull some strings in here?"

"Oh...Bradley that..."

I could sense her hesitation over the phone and I knew she was hiding something from me.

I ran my fingers through my hair. "Come on, Mother please be honest with me. It wouldn't look good if I am unaware of this type of arrangement. If you and Dad did something, I deserve to know please".

"My ever-insightful son, I really can't hide anything from you, can I?" She sighed. "Well, your Father...he and I did make some arrangements for you to be placed in special holding. We know prison is no place for you and we worry about how you will cope. This was the only solution that came to mind".

I gripped the phone tightly. "At what cost, Mom?"

"Cost?...what cost honey?"...she stuttered, "it cost us nothing".

"Everyone we knew turned their backs on us the minute everything went south for our family! Do you expect me to believe that in a place like this someone will extend grace to us without a price?" I asked. "All that we had is gone. Whatever that's left should be for you and Father-especially because of his health".

"Brad, I understand...but I assure you, this was just a favor...nothing else".

"Are you sure, Mother?" I asked, toning down. "Of course son...don't you trust me anymore?"

"I do...I'm sorry I raised my voice earlier".

"It's ok honey, you don't have to be sorry. I know it's hard for you".

We did a little bit more chit-chat before I dropped the phone.

On getting to my room, I began replaying the discussion I had with my Mother.

She had explained things to me but I was still skeptical. I had sensed the shift in her tone-her hesitation, which made me feel uneasy. I truly wanted to believe her but my gut told me there was more to this than she was letting on. One way or the other I have to get to the bottom of this. I just need to find out how.

Soon, the lights went out and while I tried to sleep I felt a discomfort in my right pocket. I reached for it and felt a hardback. It was the journal I was given! I was so distracted earlier I had forgotten about it.

I fondled it for a bit and held it to my lips. I thought of the young woman I'd seen earlier today. I didn't even ask for her name. But that didn't matter as I made a name for her and how she made me feel.

Hope!

Yes, she made me feel hopeful, so Hope was only befitting.